[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 4041-4042]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA, PUBLIC LAND CONVEYANCE

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2937) to provide for the conveyance of certain public land 
in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a shooting range, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2937

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
       (1) the Las Vegas area has experienced such rapid growth in 
     the last few years that traditional locations for target 
     shooting are now too close to populated areas for safety;
       (2) there is a need to designate a centralized location in 
     the Las Vegas Valley where target shooters can practice 
     safely; and
       (3) a central facility is also needed for persons training 
     in the use of firearms, such as local law enforcement and 
     security personnel.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to provide a suitable location for the establishment of 
     a centralized shooting facility in the Las Vegas Valley; and
       (2) to provide the public with--
       (A) opportunities for education and recreation; and
       (B) a location for competitive events and marksmanship 
     training.
       (c) Conveyance.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     convey to Clark County, Nevada, subject to valid existing 
     rights, for no consideration, all right, title, and interest 
     of the United States in and to the parcels of land described 
     in subsection (d).
       (d) Land Descriptions.--The parcels of land to be conveyed 
     under subsection (c) are the parcels of land that are 
     described as follows:
       (1) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in S\1/2\, sec. 25, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo 
     Base and Meridian.
       (2) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in S\1/2\, sec. 26, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo 
     Base and Meridian.
       (3) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in S\1/2\, sec. 27, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo 
     Base and Meridian.
       (4) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in sec. 34, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and 
     Meridian.
       (5) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in sec. 35, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and 
     Meridian.
       (6) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, 
     Nevada, in sec. 36, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and 
     Meridian.
       (e) Use of Land.--
       (1) In general.--The parcels of land conveyed under 
     subsection (c)--
       (A) shall be used by Clark County for the purposes 
     described in subsection (b) only; and
       (B) shall not be disposed of by the county.
       (2) Reversion.--If Clark County ceases to use any parcel 
     for the purposes described in subsection (b)--
       (A) title to the parcel shall revert to the United States, 
     at the option of the United States; and
       (B) Clark County, Nevada, shall be responsible for any 
     reclamation necessary to revert the parcel to the United 
     States.
       (f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior may require such additional terms and conditions in 
     connection with the conveyance as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
       (g) Release of Land.--The Congress--
       (1) finds that the parcels of land conveyed under 
     subsection (c), comprising a portion of the Quail Springs 
     Wilderness Study Area, NV-050-411, managed by the Bureau of 
     Land Management and reported to the Congress in 1991, have 
     been adequately studied for wilderness designation under 
     section 603 of the Federal Land Management Policy Act of 1976 
     (43 U.S.C. 1782); and
       (2) declares that those parcels are no longer subject to 
     the requirements contained in subsection (c) of that section 
     pertaining to the management of wilderness study areas in a 
     manner that does not impair the suitability of such areas for 
     preservation as wilderness.
       (h) Administrative Costs.--The Secretary shall require that 
     Clark County, Nevada, pay all survey costs and other 
     administrative costs necessary for the preparation and 
     completion of any patents of and transfer of title to 
     property under this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2937, introduced by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. 
Gibbons) would provide for the conveyance of certain public lands in 
Clark County, Nevada, for use as a regional public shooting range.
  Unprecedented residential growth over the past 20 years in and around 
the city of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, has forced a number of 
shooting ranges to close. Those few shooting ranges that remain are 
close to being in violation of local ordinances that prohibit the 
discharge of firearms in or near residential areas.
  Mr. Speaker, to address this matter, H.R. 2937 authorizes and directs 
the Secretary of the Interior to convey approximately 2,880 acres of 
public lands to Clark County, Nevada, for the creation of a regional 
public shooting range. The actual usable land for the shooting range 
will be approximately 1,400 acres. The balance would go towards a 
buffer zone for the west and south sides of the range. This new public 
facility would provide users, archery, trap, skeet, rifle and pistol, 
and air pellets, with a safe location for competitive events and 
marksmanship training as well as opportunities for education and 
recreation. The new shooting range will also be utilized by city and 
county police departments.
  The bill includes revision language should Clark County, Nevada, 
cease to use the land as prescribed. In addition,

[[Page 4042]]

release language is included which declares the land conveyed has been 
adequately studied for wilderness designation under the Federal Land 
Management Policy Act; and once it is conveyed to Clark County, Nevada, 
the land is no longer subject to FLMPA requirements. I urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 2937, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2937, sponsored by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. 
Gibbons), would convey 4.5 square miles of Federal land in Clark 
County, Nevada, to Clark County, free of charge.
  The acreage in question is currently managed by the Bureau of Land 
Management as part of the Quail Springs Wilderness Study Area, and the 
legislation releases the land from WSA status.
  The purpose of the legislation is to provide a centralized firearms 
training facility and shooting range in the Las Vegas Valley. Among 
other effects, the rapid population expansion which has taken place in 
the valley has created a dangerous situation whereby once rural 
activities such as firearms practice, is now taking place in close 
proximity to populated areas. This transfer will allow development of a 
safe facility for these activities, with a sufficient buffer area.
  While such a transaction raises several concerns, not the least of 
which is the status of this land as a wilderness study area, we do not 
intend to oppose this measure. The administration supports H.R. 2937, 
and a companion bill has been introduced by the majority whip, Senator 
Harry Reid of Nevada. We commend our colleague on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), the author of this legislation.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for allowing H.R. 
2937 to be considered here today. I would further like to thank the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public 
Lands, the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), for expediting 
passage of this legislation in the Committee on Resources.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2937 is a bill to provide for the conveyance of 
certain public lands in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a public 
shooting range. This legislation enjoys strong bipartisan and bicameral 
support from our Nevada delegation.

                              {time}  1445

  Nevada Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign have introduced a 
companion bill in the United States Senate, and this legislation enjoys 
support from the administration as well.
  For 15 consecutive years, Nevada has had the fastest growing 
population of any State. For 20 years, Clark County, Nevada has been 
the fastest growing county, with the majority of that growth taking 
place in the Second Congressional District. Accommodating that growth 
and meeting its challenges is something that I often discuss before 
this body.
  Nevadans take great pride in the outdoor recreational opportunities 
that our great State has to offer. Unfortunately, Nevada has 87 percent 
publicly owned lands, which means that most of the recreation must take 
place on our public lands. Regardless, protecting the multiple use of 
our lands in Nevada is very important to our citizens.
  The legislation before us today helps accommodate another longtime 
recreational favorite in Nevada, target shooting. H.R. 2937 will 
designate approximately 2,800 acres of public land north of Las Vegas 
to be used as a permanent shooting range. About half of the 2,800 acres 
will actually contain the shooting range, with the other 1,400 acres 
serving as a required buffer zone to ensure public safety. This new 
shooting facility will not only provide the public with a safe place to 
shoot, it will serve as a training facility for our law enforcement 
personnel in southern Nevada.
  This legislation also includes reversionary language should Clark 
County cease to use the land as prescribed in this bill. Further, the 
2,800 acres is currently designated a wilderness study area by the BLM. 
Yet, Mr. Speaker, the BLM has adequately studied this land and 
determined that it is not suitable for wilderness area designation. 
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, release language is included that declares the 
land conveyed has been adequately studied for wilderness designation 
under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, or FLPMA as it is 
known.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation represents a simple land conveyance. It 
makes good sense. H.R. 2937 is supported by our law enforcement 
personnel, Clark County, and the public at large. Again, I want to 
thank the chairman and the ranking member for this opportunity. I urge 
my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Walden of Oregon). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2937, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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